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The Spiral Starecase was an American pop band, best known for its 1969 single "More Today Than Yesterday". Hailing from Sacramento, California, United States, the band was recognizable for its horn section and lead singer/guitarist Pat Upton's voice.
Beginning life under the name The Fydallions, the group first formed in 1964, changing their name to Spiral Starecase several years later. In addition to Upton the band included Harvey Kaye (organ), Dick Lopes (saxophone), Bobby Raymond (bass guitar), Gene Austin (bass guitar), Vinny Parello (drums), Mark Barrett (drums), Al Sebay (electric guitar), and Mike Caschera.
Their first two singles, produced by Gary Usher and released in 1968, were regional successes in markets like Phoenix, Arizona. Although they were not featured on an album, these two songs, along with a third single released that same year, "Baby What I Mean", would later be featured on the compilation The Very Best of the Spiral Starecase.
At this point, Sonny Knight was brought in to produce their first album. Usher had encouraged Upton to write original material for the group, and Upton had written "More Today Than Yesterday," while the band was working the Flamingo Sky Room in Las Vegas.
"More Today Than Yesterday" peaked at number 1 on the KHJ Boss Radio 30 on April 23, 1969, at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Cash Box Top 100. It is ranked as the 50th biggest U.S. hit of 1969. In Canada, it reached number six and is ranked as the 63rd biggest hit of the year. The group soon released their debut album, titled after the song along with a few more singles including the follow-up, "She's Ready", and "No One for Me to Turn To" after signing with Columbia Records.
The group recorded many songs for Columbia Records including several singles. None of those however could match the success of "More Today Than Yesterday", and the group disbanded approximately 18 months after the chart topping song was released. Poor management, squabbles over finances and a lawsuit also contributed to the original line-up's decision to call it quits.
Upton went back to Los Angeles to work as a session musician, eventually working with Ricky Nelson.
Kaye returned to Las Vegas and reformed the band in the mid 1970s. That line-up also featured Mike Caschera ( Michael Anthony) (lead vocals), Al Sebay (guitar), Gene Austin (electric bass), and Mark Barrett (drums). The band toured extensively and played every major venue in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the remainder of the 1970s through the mid-1980s often with a full horn section to replicate the sound of their biggest hits.
Raymond died in 1984. Childs, Marty and March, Jeff (2011). Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? (Volume 1), p. 192. Davis, CA: EditPros LLC. (at Google Books) Retrieved 5 January 2024. Kaye died on August 17, 2008 at age 69. Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone?- Facebook post (17 August 2012) Retrieved 6 January 2024. Harvey Kaye Obituary (2008), Las Vegas Review Journal @legacy.com Retrieved 6 January 2024. Upton died on July 27, 2016, aged 75.
| 1969 | More Today Than Yesterday | 79 | Columbia Records |
| 1995 | The Very Best of Spiral Starecase | Taragon Records |
| 1997 | Our Day Will Come Spiral Starecase Revisited | Sony Music Entertainment Philippines |
| 2000 | More Today Than Yesterday/Spiral Starecase | Sony Japan |
| 2003 | Spiral Starecase: The Complete Columbia Recordings | Taragon Records |
| 2004 | Priceless Collection Spiral Starecase More Today Than Yesterday | Sony Music Entertainment |
| 2006 | Our Day Will Come | Columbia Records |
| From the Original Masters Spiral Starecase Our Day Will Come Revisited | Sony Music Entertainment |
| 1968 | "Baby What I Mean" | 111 | – | – | Columbia Records | "Makin' My Mind Up" | |
| "I'll Run" | – | – | – | "Inside, Outside, Upside Down" | |||
| 1969 | "More Today Than Yesterday" | 12 | 7 | 6 | "Broken-Hearted Man" | More Today Than Yesterday | |
| "No One for Me to Turn To" | 52 | 42 | 38 | "Sweet Little Thing" | |||
| "She's Ready" | 72 | – | – | "Judas to the Love We Knew" |
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